Abstract
In this study, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) gel fibers were made by gel-spinning with different concentration solutions of 8–16 wt%. The solvent separation and extracting dynamics of different gel fibers were studied. The thermal and crystallizing properties of different fibers were characterized with differential scanning calorimeter and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The morphological structure of different gel fibers was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The maximum drawing ratios (DRs) of different fibers and the tenacity of ultra-drawn fibers were measured and compared. The results showed that the phase separation of different concentration UHMWPE gel fibers were severe at the first hour and reached equilibrium state after about 48 h placing. The critical extraction time of different gel fibers and the optimum bath ratios of extraction agent to gel fibers were 2 min and 10 mL/g, respectively. The melting point and the crystallinity of extracted fibers were both higher than that of gel fibers, and the crystallinity of fibers increased with increasing of UHMWPE concentration. High concentration UHMWPE fiber has more dense morphological structure while compared with lower concentration ones. The maximum achieved DRs of gel fibers were higher than that of extracted fibers. The DR and tensile strength of extracted fibers decreased with increasing of UHMWPE concentration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Zwijnenburg A, Pennings AJ (1975) Colloid Polym Sci 253:452
Paul S, Lemstra Piet J (1979) Makromol Chem Phys 180(12):2983
Paul S, Lemstra Piet J, Booij Henk C (1981) J Polym Sci B 19(5):877
Barham PJ, Keller A (1985) J Mater Sci 20:2281. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00556059
Hoogsteen W, ten Brinke G, Pennings AJ (1987) Polymer 28(6):923
Kaji A, Otha Y, Yasuda H, Murano M (1990) Polym J 22(6):455
Smith P, Boudet A, Chanzy H (1985) J Mater Sci Lett 4:13. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00719883
Kalb B, Pennings AJ (1980) J Mater Sci 15:2584. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00550763
Bastiaansen CWM (1992) Polymer 33(8):1649
Bastiaansen, Cees WM (1997) Mater Sci Technol 18:551
Maghsoud Z, Moaddel H (2007) Iran Polym J 16(6):363
Zhang Y, Xiao C, GuanXia J, ShuLin A (1999) J Appl Polym Sci 74:670
Xin Z, Dong Z, Xin C (2009) Spinning process for high-strength and high-modulus ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibre. CN, CN101525769
Zhao G, Xu J (2009) Beijing Fuzhuang Xueyuan Xuebao 29(2):7 (in Chinese)
Yin S., X. Qiao (2003) Method for preparing extra high molecular polyethylene high- concentrated solution for spinning, CN, CN1405367
Jian T, Shyu W, Lin Y, Chen K, Yeh J (2003) Polym Eng Sci 43(11):1765
Yeh J, Lin S, Tu C, Hsie K, Chang F (2008) J Mater Sci 43:4892. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2711-1
Yeh J, Lin Y, Jiang H (2004) J Appl Polym Sci 91:1559
Tsubakihara S, Nakamura A, Yasuniwa M (1996) Polym J 28(6):489
Kwon YK, Boller A, Pyda M, Wunderlich B (2000) Polymer 41:6237
Chiu H, Wang J (1998) J Appl Polym Sci 70:1009
Acknowledgement
This work was financially supported by China National 863 Project (No. 2009AA034602), Key Laboratory of High Performance Fibers and Products (Donghua University, Ministry of Education).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xiao, M., Yu, J., Zhu, J. et al. Effect of UHMWPE concentration on the extracting, drawing, and crystallizing properties of gel fibers. J Mater Sci 46, 5690–5697 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5520-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5520-x